If you are dreaming of making a career in designing, then the National Institute of Design (NID) is one of the best options for you. Every year, thousands of candidates in the country give the Design Aptitude Test (DAT), after which they can get admission in this premier institute. The wait for NID DAT 2026 is going to end soon. Once the notification is out, interested and eligible students will be able to apply for NID DAT 2026.
The thing to keep in mind is that the demand for students studying from NID is very high, not only in India but also abroad. Due to which lakhs of candidates appear in this exam every year. NID DAT 2026 notification is going to be released.
NID DAT 2026 Exam Schedule
The official notification for the 2026 admission session is likely to be released by NID by September 2025. The application process will start soon after this. Candidates are advised not to wait for the last date of application and to fill out the form on time.
Event Expected Dates
- Notification Released September – October 2025
- Application Process Starts October 2025
- Last Date to Apply: December 2025
- DAT Prelims Admit Card About 10 days before the exam
- DAT Prelims Exam January 2026
- DAT Prelims Result March – April 2026
- DAT Mains Exam April – May 2026
NID DAT 2026: Eligibility Criteria
B.Des (Bachelor of Design):
Educational Qualification: Candidate must have passed 12th examination from any recognised board, or be appearing in 12th examination in 2026.
Age Limit: General category candidates should not be born before 1st July 2005.
M.Des (Master of Design):
Educational Qualification: Must have a bachelor’s degree in any subject. Apart from this, candidates having a 4-year full-time diploma in Design, Fine Arts, Applied Arts, or Architecture are also eligible.
Age Limit: General category candidates should not be born before 1 July 1994.
NID DAT 2026: Exam Pattern
NID DAT is conducted in two stages:
DAT Prelims:
It is a written exam carrying a total of 100 marks.
It tests the creativity, observation, visual imagination and problem-solving ability of the candidate.
There is no negative marking in it.
DAT Mains:
Only those candidates who are successful in the prelims participate in it.
For B.Des, there is only Studio Test, while for M.Des, both Studio Test and Personal Interview are conducted.
This is also of 100 marks.
Why did you choose NID?
Let us tell you that students graduating from NID get attractive opportunities in top design companies and startups. After NID DAT 2026, the course not only focuses on books but also provides real projects and industry exposure. The importance of LID in the country is very significant and high.
The best thing is that the fees here are much lower than private design colleges, making it convenient for all students to study on a low budget. Along with this, the degree of NID is recognised nationally and internationally.